Master's Professional Reports Abstract

A Renewable Energy Program for Texas in an Era of Deregulation

Restructuring of the electric power industry is occurring at a rapid rate in the United States.
This report examines the potential for developing renewable energy in Texas while restructuring the
electric power industry. The first chapter provides definitions and an overview of the renewable
industry and describes renewable program options for a restructured electric power industry. The
second chapter reviews the federal efforts to deregulate the electric power industry based on
deregulation of the natural gas, telecommunications and airline industries as models. chapter Three
investigates the restructuring activities occurring at the state level and reports on four primary
examples, California, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Illinois. In Chapter Four, the current
state of the electric power industry in Texas is examined, including the industry's ramifications on
the Texas environment. The final chapter proposes recommendations for a renewable energy program
for Texas.